Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/363



Vaisampayana continued, -"A friend of Vidura's person well-skilled in mining, coming unto the Pandavas, addressed them in secret, saying,

-'I have been sent by Vidura and am a skilful miner. I am to serve the Pandavas. Tell me what I am to do for ye ! From the trust he reposeth in me Vidura hath said unto me.Go thou unto the Pandavas and accomplish thou their good-What shall I do for you? Purochana will set fire to the door of thy house on the fourteenth night of this the dark fortnight. To burn to death those tigers among men, the Pandavas with their mother, is the design of that wicked wretch the son of Dhritarashtra. O son of Pandu, Vidura also told thee something in the Mlechchha tongue to which thou also hadst replied in same language. I state these particulars as my credentials.' Hearing these words, Yudhishthira, the truthful son of Kunti replied-'O amiable one, I now know thee as a dear and trusted friend of Vidura, true and ever devoted to him. There is nothing that the learned Vidura doth not know. As his, so ours art thou ! Make no difference between him and us. We are as much thine as his. O protect us as the learned Vidura ever protecteth us ! I know that this house, so inflammable, hath been contrived for me by Purochana at the command of Dhritarashtra's son. That wicked wretch commanding wealth and allies pursueth us without intermission. O, save us with a little exersion from the impending conflagration. If we are burnt to death here, Duryyodhana's most cherished desire will be satisfied. Here is that wretch's well-furnished arsenal. This large mansion hath been built abutting the high ramparts of the arsenal without any outlet. But this unholy contrivance of Duryyodhana was known to Vidura from the first, and he it was who enlightened is beforehand. The danger of which Khatri had foreknowledge is now at our door. Save us from it without Purochana's knowledge thereof. On bearing these words, the miner said, 'So be it,' and carefully beginning his work of excavation, made a large subterranean passage. And the mouth of that passage was in the centre of that house, and it was on a level with the floor and closed up with planks. The mouth was so covered from fear of Purochana, that wicked wretch who kept a constant watch at the door of the house. The Pandavas used to sleep within their chambers with arms ready for use, while, during the day, they went a-hunting from forest to forest. Thus, O king. they lived in that mansion) very guardedly, deceiving